Isafjordur and Vigur Island - July 24, 2021

Word on the ship is the owner of the mega yacht we saw yesterday in Akureyri is JK Rowling the author of the Harry Potter books.

We docked in Isafjordur after cruising all night. Once again the seas were flat and the ship was steady. Our good fortune will not continue. Isafjordur is similar to all the other fjord towns because it was started as a herring station and continues to rely heavily on fishing for its industry.

Here you can see where we are today on this chart. We are on the north west side of Iceland.

Here you can see where we are today on this chart. We are on the north west side of Iceland.

We took a tour boat to Vigur Island. It is the second largest island in Isafjordur fjord. Located just south of the Arctic Circle, the island is around 2 kilometres (6,600 ft) in length and 400 metres (1,300 ft) in width. The island is most noted for its thriving seabird colonies—particularly Puffins, Atlantic terns and Eider.

We took a tour boat to Vigur Island. It is the second largest island in Isafjordur fjord. Located just south of the Arctic Circle, the island is around 2 kilometres (6,600 ft) in length and 400 metres (1,300 ft) in width. The island is most noted for its thriving seabird colonies—particularly Puffins, Atlantic terns and Eider.

All the buildings on Vigur are clustered on this beach. The two story Victoria House built in 1860, is one of the oldest timber buildings in Iceland and is part of The Historical Buildings Collection. In the past there were as many as 15 farms on the island. Today, there is only a single farm located on Vigur.

All the buildings on Vigur are clustered on this beach. The two story Victoria House built in 1860, is one of the oldest timber buildings in Iceland and is part of The Historical Buildings Collection. In the past there were as many as 15 farms on the island. Today, there is only a single farm located on Vigur.

A windmill, built in 1840, is also located on the island. It is the only surviving historic windmill in the country and possibly the northernmost windmill in the world. You can see the flag of Iceland in this photo.

A windmill, built in 1840, is also located on the island. It is the only surviving historic windmill in the country and possibly the northernmost windmill in the world. You can see the flag of Iceland in this photo.

This is an Eiger. It looks like a duck to me but it does not quack. Each year around 3500 nests of the Common Eider are found on Vigur. The nests are lined with Eider Down which is collected by the farmer once eggs have hatched and chicks vacated.

This is an Eiger. It looks like a duck to me but it does not quack. Each year around 3500 nests of the Common Eider are found on Vigur. The nests are lined with Eider Down which is collected by the farmer once eggs have hatched and chicks vacated.

The Eider Down is dried, sorted and cleaned. The eiderdown sells for $1,200 per kilo (2.2 pounds). I would guess that a kilo of eiderdown would fill a large room.

The Eider Down is dried, sorted and cleaned. The eiderdown sells for $1,200 per kilo (2.2 pounds). I would guess that a kilo of eiderdown would fill a large room.

Vigur is home to one of the largest puffin colonies in Iceland as well as a rare colony of Black Guillemot. It also hosts vast numbers of Arctic Tern. The Arctic Terns are very territorial. When they have chicks nearby they dive bomb the tourists to chase them away.

Vigur is home to one of the largest puffin colonies in Iceland as well as a rare colony of Black Guillemot. It also hosts vast numbers of Arctic Tern. The Arctic Terns are very territorial. When they have chicks nearby they dive bomb the tourists to chase them away.

You can see the tourists in the other photo are waving sticks above their heads. They do this to scare off the Arctic Terns. Here is a supply of Arctic Tern defense sticks. The farmer points out you should only use the stick for defense and do not try to knock the birds out of the sky when they attack. Another option is to walk next a person that is taller than you. The birds will attack the tallest person. When we were on Grimsey one of our fellow travelers was hit in the head by an Arctic Tern and it knocked his hat off and scratched him.

You can see the tourists in the other photo are waving sticks above their heads. They do this to scare off the Arctic Terns. Here is a supply of Arctic Tern defense sticks. The farmer points out you should only use the stick for defense and do not try to knock the birds out of the sky when they attack. Another option is to walk next a person that is taller than you. The birds will attack the tallest person. When we were on Grimsey one of our fellow travelers was hit in the head by an Arctic Tern and it knocked his hat off and scratched him.

Iceland's oldest seaworthy boat, Vigurbreiður, is also on Vigur. This boat was used to transport sheep across the fjord to the mainland. The sheep would graze on the slopes of Horse Mountain. They would carry up 30 sheep per trip in this boat.

Iceland's oldest seaworthy boat, Vigurbreiður, is also on Vigur. This boat was used to transport sheep across the fjord to the mainland. The sheep would graze on the slopes of Horse Mountain. They would carry up 30 sheep per trip in this boat.

This is a view of Horse Mountain across the fjord from Vigur Island. All this could have been yours! Last year Vigur Island was put up for sale. It is speculated that it sold for at least 300 million Icelandic krona, which is somewhere in the region of $3,000,000. The island was purchased by two adventurers. The husband is from Iceland and met his future wife in Antarctica after she had completed a solo crossing of Antarctica on cross country skis. She is from the UK. They married and have a four year old daughter. During the winter they are the only inhabitants of the island. They supplement their income by welcoming tourists to explore their island. The tour companies pay a fee for each tourist and there is a very nice gift shop in the restaurant. As I am writing today’s blog the wind and the seas are building. Tonight is our longest voyage of the trip. We departed Isafjordur at 2 pm and will arrive at Heimaey Island at noon tomorrow. This is a 22 hour leg. The winds are on the nose all the way at 20+ knots. The waves are already 4 - 6 ‘ with occasional 8 footers. So far the gyro stabilizers are earning their keep. We shall see how well our fellow passengers can handle lumpy seas.

This is a view of Horse Mountain across the fjord from Vigur Island.

All this could have been yours! Last year Vigur Island was put up for sale. It is speculated that it sold for at least 300 million Icelandic krona, which is somewhere in the region of $3,000,000. The island was purchased by two adventurers. The husband is from Iceland and met his future wife in Antarctica after she had completed a solo crossing of Antarctica on cross country skis. She is from the UK. They married and have a four year old daughter. During the winter they are the only inhabitants of the island. They supplement their income by welcoming tourists to explore their island. The tour companies pay a fee for each tourist and there is a very nice gift shop in the restaurant.

As I am writing today’s blog the wind and the seas are building. Tonight is our longest voyage of the trip. We departed Isafjordur at 2 pm and will arrive at Heimaey Island at noon tomorrow. This is a 22 hour leg. The winds are on the nose all the way at 20+ knots. The waves are already 4 - 6 ‘ with occasional 8 footers. So far the gyro stabilizers are earning their keep. We shall see how well our fellow passengers can handle lumpy seas.

John Simons